IDEMIDEM Drinking Water Program Drinking Water Program

Water ResourcesWater Resources

Study CommitteeStudy Committee

BackgroundBackground

• Federal Safe Drinking Water Act:Federal Safe Drinking Water Act:– In 1974 EPA promulgated National In 1974 EPA promulgated National

Primary Drinking Water Regulations Primary Drinking Water Regulations which apply to public water systemswhich apply to public water systems

– Provided for State implementation Provided for State implementation (primacy)(primacy)

– Act was amended in 1986 and 1996 Act was amended in 1986 and 1996 strengthening and increasing regulatory strengthening and increasing regulatory requirementsrequirements

BackgroundBackground

• Indiana Code 13-18-16-9 provides:Indiana Code 13-18-16-9 provides:

– IDEM is the agency with responsibility IDEM is the agency with responsibility concerning the Federal Safe Drinking concerning the Federal Safe Drinking Water ActWater Act

– IDEM take necessary actions to secure IDEM take necessary actions to secure the benefits of the Safe Drinking Water the benefits of the Safe Drinking Water Act for Indiana Act for Indiana

IDEM Drinking Water IDEM Drinking Water ProgramProgram• Since 1991 IDEM has responsibility for Since 1991 IDEM has responsibility for

implementing the Federal Safe Drinking implementing the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act and for ensuring that public water Water Act and for ensuring that public water systems provide Hoosiers with a safe and systems provide Hoosiers with a safe and adequate supply of drinking wateradequate supply of drinking water

• The agency carries out this responsibility by:The agency carries out this responsibility by:– Establishing requirements for owners/operators Establishing requirements for owners/operators

of public water systemsof public water systems– Monitoring compliance and enforcing Safe Monitoring compliance and enforcing Safe

Drinking Water Act and other applicable Drinking Water Act and other applicable requirementsrequirements

– Providing assistance to public water systemsProviding assistance to public water systems

IDEM Drinking Water IDEM Drinking Water ProgramProgram

• Focus of program is public water Focus of program is public water systemssystems

• What is a public water system?What is a public water system?

• How many are there?How many are there?

• How are they regulated?How are they regulated?

Public Water Supply Public Water Supply InformationInformation• A little over 5 million people in Indiana are A little over 5 million people in Indiana are

served by public water suppliesserved by public water supplies

• The remaining approximately 1 million The remaining approximately 1 million people have private supplies, mainly people have private supplies, mainly individual wells using groundwaterindividual wells using groundwater

• Individual private wells are not regulated Individual private wells are not regulated by IDEMby IDEM– Well drillers requirementsWell drillers requirements– Some county and local government Some county and local government

requirementsrequirements

Public Water Supply Public Water Supply InformationInformation• 96% of all Public Water Supplies utilize 96% of all Public Water Supplies utilize

ground water as their sourceground water as their source

• Approximately 52% of the population served Approximately 52% of the population served by public water systems is served by by public water systems is served by systems utilizing ground water systems utilizing ground water

• The remaining population is served by The remaining population is served by systems using surface water - mostly very systems using surface water - mostly very large systemslarge systems

What is a public water What is a public water systemsystem

Transmission

What is a public water What is a public water systemsystem• Types of Public Water Systems:Types of Public Water Systems:

– Community - serves at least 15 service Community - serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Examples: cities, towns, mobile residents. Examples: cities, towns, mobile home parks, subdivisions (home owner home parks, subdivisions (home owner associations)associations)

– Nontransient noncommunity - regularly serves Nontransient noncommunity - regularly serves the same 25 or more nonresident individuals the same 25 or more nonresident individuals daily for at least 60 days/year. Examples: daily for at least 60 days/year. Examples: industries, businesses, schools, daycares, etc. industries, businesses, schools, daycares, etc. with their own supply of waterwith their own supply of water

Types of public water Types of public water systemssystems

– Transient - does not regularly serve at Transient - does not regularly serve at least 25 of the same persons for over six least 25 of the same persons for over six months/year. Examples: churches, months/year. Examples: churches, restaurants, hotels/motels, restaurants, hotels/motels, campgrounds, gas stations, golf courses, campgrounds, gas stations, golf courses, etc. with their own supply of wateretc. with their own supply of water

Number of Public Water Number of Public Water SuppliesSupplies

Approximately 4,400 totalApproximately 4,400 totalPublic Wate r Supplie s

2888835

677

Trans ient Com m unity NonTrans ient

Public Water Supply Public Water Supply RequirementsRequirements• Public water systems must perform routine Public water systems must perform routine

sampling to ensure qualitysampling to ensure quality• Community and nontransient noncommunity Community and nontransient noncommunity

systems must have certified operatorssystems must have certified operators• All systems must have infrastructure All systems must have infrastructure

components approved - construction permitscomponents approved - construction permits• All systems are required to take corrective All systems are required to take corrective

action if quality requirements are not metaction if quality requirements are not met• All system are required to notify customers All system are required to notify customers

if sampling indicates a problem with the if sampling indicates a problem with the quality of the waterquality of the water

Public Water System Public Water System RequirementsRequirements• EPA establishes Maximum Contaminant EPA establishes Maximum Contaminant

Levels (MCLs) Levels (MCLs)

• There are approximately 90 different There are approximately 90 different contaminants that have MCLs and health contaminants that have MCLs and health effects establishedeffects established

• Samples are collected on a frequency Samples are collected on a frequency determined by IDEM based on the determined by IDEM based on the contaminant, size and type of system, past contaminant, size and type of system, past detections, etcdetections, etc

• Samples must be analyzed by State Samples must be analyzed by State certified laboratorycertified laboratory

Public Water System Public Water System RequirementsRequirements• IDEM ensures that systems meet the MCLs IDEM ensures that systems meet the MCLs

and that water is safeand that water is safe– Performing Inspections Performing Inspections – Reviewing monitoring and compliance Reviewing monitoring and compliance

datadata– Providing assistance to Providing assistance to – Ensuring public water systems correct Ensuring public water systems correct

deficienciesdeficiencies– Implementing source water protectionImplementing source water protection– Making sure public is notified if there is Making sure public is notified if there is

problemproblem– Approving infrastructure componentsApproving infrastructure components

Public Water System Public Water System RequirementsRequirements

• IDEM’s Drinking Water Program is primarily IDEM’s Drinking Water Program is primarily focused on the quality of water provided by focused on the quality of water provided by public water suppliespublic water supplies

• Volume and Pressure requirementsVolume and Pressure requirements– 20 psi minimum pressure in the distribution 20 psi minimum pressure in the distribution

systemsystem– IDEM can impose a connection ban on a system IDEM can impose a connection ban on a system

that does not have the ability to meet consumer that does not have the ability to meet consumer demanddemand

Bioterrorism and SecurityBioterrorism and Security

• Public water systems are “critical Public water systems are “critical infrastructure”infrastructure”

• Public water systems serving over Public water systems serving over 3,300 population were required by 3,300 population were required by federal law to:federal law to:– Perform Vulnerability AssessmentsPerform Vulnerability Assessments– Complete Emergency Response PlansComplete Emergency Response Plans